The Gigabyte A5, typically more expensive, offers a more powerful processor and graphics card, making it better for intensive tasks like 3D work or gaming. It also has more storage and RAM, meaning better multitasking and faster loading of programs. The tradeoff is its weight, which makes it less portable than the MSI GF63 Thin. Conversely, the MSI GF63 Thin is lighter and more budget-friendly but has a less powerful processor, less storage and RAM, and a lower-end graphics card, making it suitable for everyday use and less intense gaming. Both have similar screen sizes and resolutions, but the A5 has a higher screen refresh rate, which leads to smoother visuals ideal for gaming. Give Feedback
this description is based on the product variant with some specs and product variant with some specs. At the time of writing, the variant with some specs cost some dollars and the variant with some specs cost some dollars.
Advantages of the Gigabyte A5
Good for general use
Good for engineering and design
Good for gaming and AI
Good for software development
Good for content creation
Good overall display quality
Good overall build quality
Good battery life
Very good speakers
Advantages of the MSI GF63 Thin
The MSI GF63 Thin has no clear advantages over the Gigabyte A5.
Key differences
General Use
7.3/10
6.0/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
281.0 nits
DISPLAY BRIGHTNESS
249.0 nits
6.5 Hours
BATTERY LIFE
4.2 Hours
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
7.0/10
PORTABILITY SCORE
7.3/10
The Gigabyte A5 is good for general use, while the MSI GF63 Thin is only fair.
The Gigabyte A5 offers better performance for general use with its more powerful CPU and GPU, twice the RAM, and a higher-refresh-rate screen, delivering smoother visuals; it also incorporates better heat management and speaker quality. However, the MSI GF63 Thin, while less capable in processing power and screen performance, benefits from greater portability due to its lighter weight and more compact form factor, though it has a shorter battery life and lower-quality speakers.
Gaming and AI
7.1/10
6.0/10
7.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.2/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
144Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
Yes
SUPPORTS DLSS
No
No
MUX SWITCH / ADVANCED OPTIMUS
No
6.5/10
FAN NOISE SCORE
8.0/10
The Gigabyte A5 is good for gaming and AI, while the MSI GF63 Thin is only fair.
The Gigabyte A5 outperforms the MSI GF63 Thin in gaming and 3D tasks because it boasts a more powerful Nvidia RTX 3060 graphics card and a higher screen refresh rate of 144hz, as opposed to the MSI's Nvidia GTX 1650 Max-Q and 60hz refresh rate. Additionally, while both have similar screen sizes and resolution, the better GPU and refresh rate in the A5 make it more suited for smoother and more graphically intensive experiences.
Engineering and Design
7.3/10
6.0/10
6.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.3/10
7.3/10
OVERALL GPU SCORE
4.2/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
The Gigabyte A5 is good for engineering and design, while the MSI GF63 Thin is only fair.
The Gigabyte A5 outperforms the MSI GF63 Thin in engineering and design due to its stronger CPU, more RAM, and a superior GPU which are crucial for such tasks; additionally, it has a higher quality screen, which is important for design accuracy. While the MSI GF63 Thin is lighter and thus more portable, its lower-tier components and screen quality make it less suited for intensive engineering and design work.
Content Creation
7.3/10
6.0/10
6.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.3/10
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
The Gigabyte A5 is good for content creation, while the MSI GF63 Thin is only fair.
PerfectRec’s Content Creation Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for photo editing, video editing and other content creation tasks.
Software Development
7.0/10
6.0/10
6.0/10
OVERALL CPU SCORE
4.3/10
16.0 GB
RAM
8.0 GB
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
7.5/10
KEYBOARD QUALITY SCORE
7.0/10
The Gigabyte A5 is good for software development, while the MSI GF63 Thin is only fair.
PerfectRec’s Software Development Score takes into account the many different features of the laptop that make it more or less suitable for software developers.
Screen Quality
7.2/10
6.1/10
15.6in
SIZE
15.6in
1920 x 1080
RESOLUTION
1920 x 1080
IPS
DISPLAY TECHNOLOGY
IPS
144Hz
REFRESH RATE
60Hz
281.0 nits
BRIGHTNESS
249.0 nits
The Gigabyte A5 has a better screen than the MSI GF63 Thin for general use, gaming and AI, engineering and design, software development, and content creation.
The Gigabyte A5 provides a crisp and vibrant display suitable for everyday tasks and detailed engineering work, offering a wide range of colors that can be important for precision in design. However, its lower refresh rate makes it less ideal for gaming and animation, where smoother transitions are critical. The MSI GF63 Thin offers an adequate display for general productivity and basic design tasks, but its color range and refresh rate don't fully support the high-quality visuals required for professional-grade engineering or fluid graphics in gaming and 3D modeling.
Battery
6.5 Hours
4.2 Hours
The Gigabyte A5 has 6.5 hours of battery life. The MSI GF63 Thin has 4.3 hours of battery life.
Battery life estimate is based on a mix of common use patterns. More portable and higher performing laptops tend to have less battery life.
Build Quality
7.2/10
6.5/10
The Gigabyte A5 has good build quality, while the MSI GF63 Thin has only fair build quality.
PerfectRec’s Build Quality Score incorporates case materials, display and keyboard flex, hinge quality, and overall reliability.
Cost
$830
$599
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
$1,400
The Gigabyte A5 has a price of $830 and the MSI GF63 Thin costs $599.
"Ignoring price, the Gigabyte A5 has a hard time against the similarly fast competition. Besides the loud noise in 3D mode (performance mode), the high temperature development of the components should be mentioned on the downside. Despite the relatively thick case, the laptop gets very warm and loud under load, which does not exactly speak for the cooling system. The plastic surfaces look rather cheap and also tend to rattle. In most other disciplines - be it the input devices, the screen, the connectivity or the battery runtime - the Gigabyte laptop does not stand out from the crowd, neither positively nor negatively. However, those who primarily pay attention to the price-performance ratio will get a pretty good offer with the Gigabyte A5."
"If you leave aside the meagre port selection (no card reader, no DisplayPort, no Thunderbolt 3 or USB 3.1 Gen2), the fan control that could be improved (idle mode!) and the relatively dark and slow display, the MSI GF63 Thin 9SC does not have any major weaknesses. The 15-inch gamer is compact, has a low weight and offers a good price-to-performance ratio, which should please gamers that are looking for both a portable and an affordable gaming notebook. Input devices, battery life, case quality and performance are all appropriate for this purchase price."
Get a great deal on the Gigabyte A5 or the MSI GF63 Thin
About Gigabyte
Gigabyte is a Taiwanese computer hardware manufacturer. While Gigabyte mainly focuses its business on desktop hardware, Gigabyte is known for its value-oriented G series laptops, thin and light Aero series, and performance-oriented Aorus series. Gigabyte laptops offer a strong value proposition to compete with mainstream alternatives.
About MSI
MSI, also known as Micro-Star International, is a Taiwanese technology corporation. MSI is known for their wide range of gaming devices. Their series include the entry-level Cyborg/Thin and Sword/Katana series, the mid-range Bravo/Delta and Crosshair/Pulse series, and their high-end Vector, Raider, Stealth, and Titan GT series. At every performance level, MSI offers a variety of devices with varying balances between performance, battery life, weight, and price, making them a solid option to consider at every price point.
This information was produced and vetted by the PerfectRec laptops team. We are a product research and recommendation organization that meticulously reviews and evaluates the latest laptop information and makes it digestible for you.
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